Checking means for door operating mechanism



y 1931. A. T. DUPONT 1,807,284

CHECKING MEANS FbR DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 16, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Bigl I INVENTOR.

MWZ/XM y 1931- A. TV DUPONT ,3 7,2 4

CHECKfNG MEANS FOR DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 16, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 2 329 /W- 7 Z5 6a Y Iuvswron Patented May 26, 1931 UNITEDSTATES PATENT oFFIcE ANDREW T; DUPONT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OFCOLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR ELE- VATOR SUPPLIES 00., INC'., 0]! HOBOKEN, NEWJERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY CHECKING MEANS'FOR' DOOR OPERATINGMECHANISM Application fiiedna 16, 1929. Serial No. 363,674.

The present invention relates to a door operating mechanism, and moreparticularly to mechanism in which cushioning action is attained duringthe movements thereof.

In the operation of doors, it is essential that the closing movementofthe door be accomplished with a yieldable force and with a speed suchthat the momentum attained by the door will not be sufficient to closethe door against persons or objects in its path. In the opening of thedoor, however, there is little danger in a rapid initial movement of thedoor and it is only necessary to cushion the last portion of the openingmovement in order to prevent slamming of the door and injury to the dooroperating mechanism.

The present invention aims to provide yieldable cushioning meansoperative during the whole duration of the closing movement of doors andthe like, which means will also permit a quick opening movement of thedoors but will substantially retard the last portion of the openingmovement- Another object of the present invention is to provide a dooroperating mechanism having cushioning means operating with a liquid forthe opening and ment of the door.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism foroperating doors and similar devices which shall be simple in operationand in which the parts of the mechanism are readily accessibleto beeasily regulated, and which may be 'maintained in operating conditionwith a minimum of care and attention;

With these and various other ob ects in view, the invention comprisesthe various features hereinafter claimed and fully described inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of the device embody- ,ing the invention showing themanner of atclosing movetachment in operative position to the togglelever of an elevator door mechanism;

Figure 2 is a: section of the device embodying the features of theinvention;

Figures 3' and 4 are sections ofsome of the parts constituting theinvention;

7 Figure 5 is a partial section showing a modification of the invention.

One form of my invention comprises a cylindrical casing 1, having anupper head 2 and a lower head 3, which may be attached to the casing byscrew threaded connections 4 and 5. Within the casing. l'isa piston 6 towhich a piston rod *7 is connected and which passes upwardly through anopening 8 in the upper cylinder head 2. Surrounding the piston rod 7 andbetween the piston 6 and the cylinder head 2 is a helical spring 9. Thisspring is adjustedin position so as to be under tension and serves toreturn the piston to the lower end of the cylinder after operation ofthe piston by means of pressure fluid. Means are provided for admittingcompressed fluid below the piston 6 through a port 10 in the cylinderhead 3, the pressure fluid being admitted from a pipe ll attached to thecylinder head 3, through a valve casing 12 which ma'y be formedintegral, if desired, with the cylinvder head 3. In the valve casing 12is a valve 13 having a passageway or port 14 therein for admission ofpressure fluid.

' When the valve 13 is turned so that theport l4 registers withthe pipe11 and with the port 10, pressure fluid is admitted to the 7 cylinder,In the valve 13 is a second passageway or port 15 which is preferablysmaller than the port or passageway 14 and which leads from the centralportion of the passageway 14 radially outwardly to the periphery of thevalve. At a suitable point in the valve casing 12 is a port opening 16with which the passage 14 registers when the valve is turned so that thepassage 15 directions.

registers with the port 10 to permit exhaust from the cylinder.

Any suitable means may be employed for operating the valve 13, eithermanually or automatically, upon the arrival of the elevator at thelanding. For a fuller illustration of automatic, electric, pneumatic andelectro-magnetic means for producing such operation of the valveautomatically upon the arrival of the elevator at the landing, referencemay be had to Patent No. 1,565,143, granted to Harold J. Fear, December8, 1925, and to other patents in the elevator art. Such devices have notbeen illustrated in the drawings accompanying this application, but itis to be understood that the parts illustrated are intended to be usedin connection with one or more of such devices.

The piston 6 is provided with suitable packing rings 17 so as to preventpassage of fluid or liquid from one face thereof to the opposite face.

In order to provide for cushioning action during both strokes of thepiston 6 corresponding to the opening and closing of the door, I makeuse of an additional piston or plunger operating with a liquid to checkthe movements of the main piston 6 in both The cushioning meanscomprises the auxiliary piston 18 mounted on an enlarged threadedportion of the piston rod 7 and securely held thereon by means of thenuts 19. Cooperating with piston 18 is a cylinder 20, threadedlyattached at its upper end to a screw threaded boss 21 integral with anddepending from the upper cylinder head 2, and provided at its lower endwith a lever closing head 22, threaded thereon. Cylinder 20 is providedwith a se' ries of circularly disposed openings 23, for a urpose to beexplained later.

In order to prevent leakage of the checking fluid around the rod '7where the latter extends into the cylinder 20, suitable packing means isprovided. For this purpose suitable packing material 2st is placed inthe opening 8, around rod 7 and a threaded gland 25 permits the pressureon the pack ing to be varied. The cylinder head 22 has a hollowed outportion 26 in which. compressible packing material 27 is placed, and thethreaded gland 28, similar to gland 25, keeps the packing tightlyagainst the rod 7.

The lower closing head 22 for the inner cylinder 20, is provided withone or more bosses 29, shown in Figure 4, having a differential boretherethrough. The larger bore is shown at 30 while the smaller bore isindicated at 31. The junction of these bores forms a conical seat 32 fora ball valve 33 held thereagainst by means of a spring 34- resting on anexternally threaded nut 35, threaded into the cylinder head 22. Thepressure of spring 3 1 against the ball valve 33 may be varied by meansof the threaded soaasa nut 35. This nut 35 is provided with an axialpassage 36 by means of which the 1101- low bores of the bosses 29 may beplaced in communication with the atmosphere.

The piston 18, Figure 3, is also provided with one or more differentialbores 37, 38, forming a seat 39 for a ball valve 4-0, pressed thereon bymeans of a spring -11. resting on a threaded plug 412 threaded into theunder side of the piston 18.

In order to attain proper cushioning action in the movements of thepiston 6 and the parts operatively connected thereto, a liquid, such asoil or glycerine, is maintained in the cylinder 1 above piston 6 to alevel indicated at 43, such that a suitable distance separates the oillevel from the openings 23 in cylinder 20 when the piston is at thebottom'of the door closing stroke. This position is shown in Figure 1.

Any suitable means may be provided for placing liquid in the cylinder 1,such, for example, as the opening 14 in theupper cylinder head 2,normally closed by a threaded filling plug d5.

In the operation of the device, as applied, for example, to the usualhand operated levers 16 of an elevator door 47, the device may besupported by means of a suitable bracket as attached to the elevatorhatchway, and may be connected to the toggle lever through a lug 19attached to the piston rod 7 and to the said lever. The elevator door issupported, as shown in the drawings, on an overhead track 50 in theordinary manner.

The operation of the device is as follows:

hen it is desired to open the elevator door, pressure fluid is admittedto the cylinder 1 by turning the valve 13 in position for admission,shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. Pressure fluid enters the cylinder 1through the port 10 and forces the piston 6 upwardly against the tensionof the spring 9. The auxiliary piston 18 attached to the piston rod 7moves upwardly in cylinder 20 with the movement of piston 6. The oil orother liquid within cylinder 1 is gradually forced upward until itslevel reaches the ports 23 in the wall of cylinder 2( at which time itis forced inside of the cylinder 20, above piston 18. The joint movementof pistons 6 and 18 will be free and unimpeded until the oil fillscompletely the space between piston 6 and head 2 and that between piston18 and boss 21. From this time on the only escape for the oil in cylinder 1 is through openings 23, cylinder chamber 20, and bores 38 and 37in piston 18, to the under side of the said piston. The pressure of theoil as the pistons 6 and 18 continue to ascend forces the ball valves tomove away from their seat, allowing: a restricted flow of oiltherearound and slowing up the stroke of the pistons considerably lUJuntil completion of the door opening movement. The oil by passed fromthe upper side of piston 18 to the under side thereof fills up the spacebetween the piston 18 and the cylinder head 22. I

As long as the'pressure fluid is operating upon the piston 6, theelevator door remains in open position. When it is desired to close thedoor, the valve 13 is turned so that the port or passage 15 registerswith the port 10 and the passageway 14 registers with the exhaustopening 16. In this posi tion exhaust takes place from the cylinder 1through the port 10, passage 15, passage 14 and opening 16-to theatmosphere. During the return movements of pistons 6 and 18, the oiltrapped in cylinder 20 between piston 18 and cylinder head 22, forcesthe valve or valves 40 tightly on their seat and causes the opening ofvalve or valves 88, so that a restricted passage is provided for the oilfrom cylinder 20 into cylinder 1 through the passages 31 and 80. Thecomplete return or closing stroke of the door is thereby considerablyslowed up and cushioned so that ample time will be provided for theremoval of persons or objects from the doors path, avoiding injury tothe same. In addition, slamming of the door is also avoided.

It will be noted that the ball valves 33 in cylinder head 22 notonlycause a restricted flow of the checking fiuid while pistons 6 and 18 aremoving. downwardly,

but they also prevent direct passage of the 1 checking fluid fromcylinder '1 to cylinder 20 when the pistons-6 and 18 move upwardly, bybeing forced tightly on their seat at this particular time.

Instead of providing openings 23 through the wall of cylinder 20 toallow passage of the oil from cylinder 1 to cylinder 20, a channel orchannels 51 may be cut into the uppercylinder head 2, as shown in Figure5, for the purpose of placing the cylinders in communication. 1 Ifdesired, a needle valve 52 may be placed into such channel or channelsfor the purpose of controlling the size of the passage so that a furthercontrol on the degree of cushioning may be obtained for the openingmovement of the door.

It will be understood that the sizes of the cylinders 1 and 20, as wellas the location of ports 23 and the volume of the checking fluidemployed, are judiciously chosen so that a suitable performance of thedevice will be had, and that various changes and modifications maybemade in the device without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention as defined in the claims.

For instance, the actuation of piston 6 by means of pressure fluid maybe wholly dispensed with, in which case the valve 13 is turned in theabove described position for nection with the atmosphere, and the door,toggle 46 is directly operated by the elevator attendant by means of'asuitable handle 53. In this event, the device above described operatesentirely as a door cushioning means. 7

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as newis: i

1. In a mechanism for controlling the movements of a door, a door, amember connected to the door, means for varying the rate of movement ofsaid member while the door moves in one direction, and means controlledby said member for impeding the movement of said member while the doormoves in the oppositedirection.

2[ In a mechanism for controlling the movements of a door, a door, amember connected to said door, means for causing an initial" freemovement of said membeinand a final'impeded movement of said memberwhile the door moves in one direction, .and means controlled by saidmemberfor retarding the movement of said member when the door moves inthe opposite direction.

3. In a mechanism for controlling the movements of a door, a door, amemberconnected to the door, means for varying the rate of movement ofsaid member while the door moves in one direction, and means controlledby. said member for impeding the entire movement of said member whilethe door moves in the opposite direction.

4. In a mechanism for controlling the 1'1'10V6i1161ll3S of a door, adoor, a member connected to said door, means for causing an initial freemovement and a final impeded movement of said member while the doormoves in one direction, and means controlled by said member forretarding the entire movement of said. member when the door moves in theopposite direction.

5. Ina. mechanism for controlling the movements of a door, a door, amember connected to the door and movable therewith in two oppositedirections, and liquid check means operative to retard the last portiononly of the movement of said member in one direction and to retard theentire movement of said member in the opposite direction;

6. In a door check, a plurality of cylinders, a piston in each of saidcylinders, a checking fluid in one of said cylinders, means foradmitting the checking fluid from said cylinder to the other, and meansfor enforcing the return of the checking fluid to the first cylinderalong a constrained oath. l 7. In a door check, a plurality ofcylinders, a piston in each of said cylinders, a checking fluid in oneof said cylinders, means providing a path for the checking fluid fromthe last mentioned cylinder to the other cylinder and from the latterback to the first, and means to cause the flow of the fluid through saidpath always in the same direction.

8. In a door check, a. plurality of cylin ders, a piston in eachcylinder, a checking fluid in one of said cylinders, and means forestablishing a path for the checking fluid from the last mentionedcylinder to the other cylinder on one side-o1 the piston therein,- andfrom the other side of said piston to the cylinder containing thechecking fluid.

9. In a door check, as set forth in claim 8, means for insuring the flowof the checking fluid in one direction only.

10. In a door check, coaxial cylinders and pistons therein, a common rodfor said pistons, checking fluid in one of said cylinders, and means forby passing thechecking fluid from one of said cylinders to the other andback to the first cylinder.

11. In a door check, as set forth in claim 10, means forcausing the flowof checking fluid in one direction only.

12. In a door check, a cylinder, a second cylinder wholly within saidfirst cylinder, differential pistons in said cylinders having a commonpiston rod, means for allowing free initial movement of said pistons inone direction, means for retarding the last portion of said movement,and means for retarding the movement of said pistons in the oppositedirection.

13. In a mechanism for controlling the movements of a door, a maincylinder, a main piston therein, an auxiliary cylinder in said maincylinder, an auxiliary piston therein, a common rod for both pistons,means for connecting the piston rod to the door, a checking fluid in themain cylinder, means for forcing the fluid from the main cylinder to theauxiliary cylinder when the pistons make an outward stroke, means forimpeding the flow of the checking fluid as the pistons near the end oftheir outward stroke, means for by passing the checking fluid from theauxiliary cylinder to the main cylinder when the pistons accomplishtheir inward stroke, and means for impeding the flow of the checkingfluid during the whole of the inward stroke.

1- In a mechanism forcontrolling the movements of a door, a memberconnected to the door, means for moving said member at a relatively highspeed to open the door, means for moving said member in the reversedirection to close the door, and means controlled by said member forpreventing said member attaining as. high a speed at any point in theclosing movement as is attainable in the opening movement.

15. A mechanism for controlling the movements of a door as set forth inclaim ANDREW T. DUPONT.

